PARIS, TN - It's taken a good deal of planning as teachers and students prepare to go back to school over the next couple of weeks. And that doesn't only mean lesson plans and supplies. There's clothing to consider - for teachers as well as students.

A recent article in USA Today says that school systems around the country are implementing dress codes for teachers as well as students, requiring teachers to cover up tattoos and prohibiting such things as multiple piercings. 

So what does constitute appropriate attire for teachers and faculty these days? Who can judge? 

Jenni Wimberley is a speech therapist in the Henry County School System in Tennessee. She says she does take her students in to account when choosing what to wear to work. 

"Teacher talk about how you exhibit the behavior that you want from your students, whether that's walking down the hall, or any kind of thing. And I guess the dress code, and how we dress our own selves is no different from that. We have pre-teen and young teenage girls, and we want to have a postitve image for them."

What about flip flops? What about denim? Are these appropriate? Wimberley says flip flops are allowed in Henry County Schools, but she only wears them on occasion.

"I try to wear a comfortable shoe, but one that makes me feel good about how I look also...but I do wear them to school some."

As for denim, teachers may wear it on Fridays, after making a small donation to a charity, such as Relay for Life. 

Wimberley says she feels it is important to dress professionally, but not lose sight of the point of being in school.

"...I think we need to do our personal best to present ourselves as a professional. And you know, everybody may look at that a little bit differently. But I also don't think we need to get so caught up on the fine points of that, that we miss we're there to educate students and help them be the best they can be." 

Students and teachers in Henry County returned to the classroom this week.